Here’s a new baseball adage: Don’t attempt to steal home on a 3-0 count with the bases loaded against a pitcher who can’t find the strike zone.
The Mariners’ Victor Robles entered a late entry into the “Most Boneheaded Play of the Year” competition Tuesday night when he bailed out Yankees starter Luis Gil by attempting to steal home in the first inning, only to be tagged out and end Seattle’s threat in an eventual 11-2 loss.
Justin Turner, batting at the time, did not seem pleased with Robles’ actions with Seattle trailing, 2-0.
To make matters worse, Robles left the game for a pinch-hitter before his next at-bat after being hit in his first at-bat while also dealing with a right leg issue, per MLB.com.
“Vic’s an aggressive player, there’s no doubt, and that’s part of his game,” Mariners interim manager Dan Wilson said. “That’s a situation where you’ve got to know you’re going to make it. He just got his hand in there, but just wasn’t able to get in there safely. We’re hoping he can bounce back tomorrow.”
The play helped the Yankees’ momentum after scoring two runs in top of the first and Gil, who had absolutely no clue where the ball was going in the first inning, settled down to allow one run over five innings.
Gil had already hit Robles and walked two batters to load the bases before falling behind, 3-0, against Turner. He threw 15 balls among his first 24 pitches.
Yet, Robles, for some reason, decided to get aggressive and try to grab Seattle’s first run when he saw Gil turn his back to the plate to grab the rosin.
However, Robles did not fully commit until Gil had half-turned his body back toward the plate, allowing the starter time to fire to catcher Austin Wells to tag Robles for the last out.
“Obviously, he likes to put pressure on the defense,” Wilson said. “And that’s part of his game. That was a very aggressive play and, again, one that you want to make sure you’re going to be in. And he just wasn’t able to wasn’t able to get in there.”
Both YES announcer Michael Kay and the MLB.com write-up mentioned Turner seeming to be quite displeased with the turn of events.
“Absolutely ridiculous, 3-0, and Justin Turner’s staring into the dugout as if to say, ‘Really?’” Kay said.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the Yankees got a break and they immediately took advantage, doubling their lead to 4-0 in the top of the second on a two-run Aaron Judge single.
Seattle’s last chance came in the third when they put two on in a 4-1 game, but Gil escaped the jam, this time without any baserunning help.
“(A) 3-0 count, that felt like a big break, little bit of a gift for us there,” Boone said. “Helped get Luis off the ropes and he was able to settle in and do enough to give us a strong five.”
